Grand Turk & Sultan
Date: 04/16/2023
Partner: Solo
Start: US 550 3.8 Miles South of Silverton
End: US 550 2.9 Miles West of Silverton
Distance: 6.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 4360ft
Duration: 5.5 hours
GPX
Grand Turk 14ers Page
Sultan 14ers Page
This traverse is a great bang for the buck with three moderate ski lines, relatively easy skinning/booting and off the hook views.
Bring a pair of lightweight shoes for the creek crossing... you could also go barefoot.
This tour requires a shuttle or the willingness to hitch hike. Hitching worked great for me!
6.4m - 4360ft - 5.5 hours
Grand Turk (L) and Sultan (R) from Kendall Benchmark
After 40 minutes of moderately steep skinning, I reached the upper basin and skinned the couloir to the saddle
Looking back to the Weminuche on the climb
Skinned within 50ft of the top of the couloir then booted to the summit
A view west towards the La Platas
I booted up and over this to the summit
Can't get enough of these Weminuche views
Sultan from Grand Turk - After skiing Grand Turk I would skin the ridge on the right to the summit
One last look before dropping
Grand Turk ski line with Sultan dead ahead
A straight forward skin up Sultan's east ridge
Looking back to Grand Turk and my tracks from Sultan's summit
Northwestern views to the Ice Lake group of Peaks from Sultan's summit. L2R: Fuller, Vermillion, Golden Horn and Pilot Knob
Wetterhorn(L) and Uncompahgre(R) to the north from Sultan's summit
Northstar Couloir on Sultan
Looking back to Sultan and a tracked out Northstar Couloir from Python
Silverton from Python
Python... the third and final ski line of the day
A look back to Python with Sultan peeking out up top
A nice little creek crossing to get back to the highway - Mineral Creek
Ok... now it is time to get back to the truck
Hope I don't have to show any skin... Gas, Grass or Ass... nobody rides for free!